Sometime today, we'll learn whether John Lannan still could have a future with the Nationals or whether the team will cut ties with its two-time opening day starter. The deadline for teams to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players is 11:59 p.m. tonight. The Nationals have 10 players up for arbitration, but only two are legitimate candidates to be non-tendered, which is a fancy term for the team declining the option to negotiate a contract through arbitration. Ian Desmond,...

Newly acquired Nationals center fielder Denard Span said he did not feel like he was back at 100 percent health-wise and was building his strength back from shoulder and concussion issues in 2012. Yet he still put up consistent and crucial offensive numbers in the Twins offense. His presence in D.C. will mark the first time in their history the Nationals have had a real leadoff hitter/center fielder who has had success elsewhere for a period of time - but at 28 still has his best years ahead...

Even though a few players have signed in recent days as free agents, the biggest fish remain out there, setting up what could be an active few days next week when baseball's Winter Meetings get going in Nashville, Tenn. We figure to hear a lot of rumors - maybe even more than usual - about players like Josh Hamilton and Zach Greinke. The Orioles probably won't be playing in that neighborhood, but it seems you can't rule anything right now. On yesterday's "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report"...

The Nationals could have easily gone out and dropped $75-85 million on a big-name free agent center fielder. Michael Bourn and B.J. Upton were both out there for the taking until Upton landed with the Braves two days ago, and signing either would have turned heads and qualified as a big splash. Instead of going in that direction and being on the hook for a monster five-year deal, the Nats took the creative route. They made a deal with the Twins for Denard Span, a 28-year-old center fielder...

With basbeall's Winter Meetings just a few days away, there is one name that will be off the table next week. Center fielder Denard Span was acquired by the Nationals from the Twins on Thursday. Span was traded for top pitching prospect Alex Meyer. This deal came just a day after the Braves landed B.J. Upton. With the acquisition of Span, the subject of where Michael Morse will land in 2013 will be a frequent one at the Winter Meetings, as will the subject of Sean Burnett. Catcher...

Baseball's Winter Meetings start Monday, and the Orioles released their spring training schedule yesterday. Grapefruit League play for the O's will begin Feb. 23 when they face the Twins. Although the Orioles have not yet announced who will be their new third base coach after DeMarlo Hale took the bench coach position in Toronto, they did acquire infielder Danny Valencia from the Red Sox. This offseason, the Orioles are looking for a middle-of-the-lineup hitter. Dan Duquette highlighted the...

The deadline for teams to offer contracts to their arbitration-eligible players is almost upon us, and the chances of Mark Reynolds staying with the Orioles diminish by the hour. The Orioles still don't seem willing to risk going to arbitration with Reynolds, who could earn around $9 million after making $7.5 million in 2012. Executive vice president Dan Duquette indicated earlier this week that he would explore negotiating a new deal with Reynolds, saying, "We'll see if we can do something...

Mike Rizzo has had his eye on Denard Span for quite a while now. The Nationals' general manager scouted Span a decade ago back at Catholic High School in Tampa, Fla., followed him through the Twins' organization and was close to pulling off a trade for Span two years ago. Today, Rizzo finally got his guy. The Nationals acquired Span from the Twins for right-handed pitching prospect Alex Meyer this evening. Span will play center field and hit leadoff for the Nats, taking over a role that...

Newly acquired Nationals outfielder Denard Span is excited to be coming to D.C. after hearing the news he had been traded to the Nationals from the Minnesota Twins. "Yeah, most definitely, most definitely, man," Span said when reached by phone after the trade was announced. "My initial reaction as I talked to (Twins) general manager Terry Ryan. At first, when he told me it was definitely sad news. I have been with the Twins for 10 years. Everything I know about the game came from...

After a couple of years of searching, the Nationals have finally found their center fielder and leadoff hitter. The Nats have acquired Denard Span in a trade with the Twins in return for minor league right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer. Span, 28, hit .283 with four home runs, 41 RBIs and 17 stolen bases and a .342 on-base percentage in 128 games this season. He gives the Nats speed at the top of the order, will bring strong defense in center and provides another left-handed bat in the...